Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely would get a neuropsych from Stixrud or a similar group. We had evals through MCPS and they found nothing. Meanwhile my kid has dyslexia, autism, adhd, auditory processing disorder and speech issues…

Medical diagnosis =/= educational identification of disability.

that is true, but: medical diagnosis + evidence of adverse impact on education + need for special instruction = educational identification of disability = IEP eligibility

OR
medical diagnosis + evidence of substantial limitation on major life activities = eligibility for a Section 504 plan.

Your child was tested, their scores are average, and they're meeting benchmark on multiple indicators. That's awesome! They've graduated from special education! If they didn't test for Autism or ADHD, it's probably because it sounds like there aren't any concerns there.

And please, OP, stop comparing your kids. Every kid is different. Just because one is a much quicker worker, and the other's slower, that doesn't signify a disability. I always loved to read and read well above grade level. My sister hated reading and was just average/slightly below average. She's got a great math mind, I had to work twice as hard and still struggled. No disabilities for either of us.

My advice to you is have a drink and some cake, and celebrate that your kid doesn't need the IEP anymore!

OP again. Is comprehensive autism, dyscalculia and ADHD testing done only by a neuropsychologist or psychiatrist or any psychologist?

Anyone that mcps works with who is good?

Anonymous wrote:If you can afford it, get a private evaluation.

Spouse does not believe that she has a disability so he will not pay for it unless she fails. When she understands something, she is able to do her tasks quite well. Its more like wait till she fails before we do anything with him.

I'm so confused what to do without any support from spouse. The school district has been good to us so far so I don't want to fight with them but at the same time, it would be nice if they are fair to my kid and she could get an independent evaluation. I've been watching youtube videos on IEE and what my rights are and kind of got the gist.

How do I request this IEE politely without ruffling any feathers? Do I send the email to the school special ed coordinator and copy the principal and psychologist and her teacher? Or do I address the request to the Principal? He really is so nice and so is her home room teacher and I feel bad even thinking of starting this IEE process.

Or should I wait a few months and do this after this school year and send an email to central office? But wouldn't the disagreement have to be stated now so that it is documented on the PWN. They will be sending me the IEP meeting notes report and dismissal soon.

If you can afford it, get a private evaluation.

Anonymous wrote:Definitely would get a neuropsych from Stixrud or a similar group. We had evals through MCPS and they found nothing. Meanwhile my kid has dyslexia, autism, adhd, auditory processing disorder and speech issues…

Medical diagnosis =/= educational identification of disability.

If I disagree with their assessment, how much time do I have to say it and what is the process?

Anonymous wrote:Definitely would get a neuropsych from Stixrud or a similar group. We had evals through MCPS and they found nothing. Meanwhile my kid has dyslexia, autism, adhd, auditory processing disorder and speech issues…

Wow. After that did you approach them again for an IEP and get it without a lawyer involved?

Definitely would get a neuropsych from Stixrud or a similar group. We had evals through MCPS and they found nothing. Meanwhile my kid has dyslexia, autism, adhd, auditory processing disorder and speech issues…

Barriers to IQ testing I see - she needs questions repeated till she gets the question. Other than that nothing.

Thank you PP. IQ testing was never done before so this is the first one.

I did ask them to do an ADHD testing and dyscalculia testing and they said the testing for the latter would be the same as what they did.

Their report does not mention ADHD at all or that I asked for it. At the previous meeting they said they will do it if they think it is necessary because they felt it was not needed, and I agreed to that.

Would it be a problem if I ask them now about IEE? I'm not sure what that means and will Google it. My spouse thinks DC has no issues so he will not pay for any kind of external testing unless she fails miserably.

Anonymous wrote:Op again.

I just checked the other document they sent and the tests they did was called:

Woodcock Johnson IV
QRI-6

They tested DC for reading, math, written expression.

Ok, but it sounds like they did not test her at all for ADHD or Autism. The Child Find obligation means they must test her for these things - you do not need to have prior proof of diagnosis.

However, it might be better to file for an IEE. Under IDEA, you have a right to an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) - you choose the person doing the assessment and the state must pay for it. You do not have to choose from the list of providers they provide, but you might have to choose someone with certain qualifications (like a PhD). Different states have different processes to request the IEE. The school has a chance to show that they did a full and adequate evaluation, but IIRC, IDEA says only that you have to disagree with their assessment, not prove they are wrong. In this situation, if they have failed to do ADHD questionnaires and autism testing and you raise that it should more than serve as "disagreement".

Or, if you can afford it, you can just pay yourself for the psycho-educational or neuropsychoeducational assessment with a psychologist or neuropsychologist. Usually 3-5K. some of the testing for like for autism or ADHD, might be covered by health insurance, but probably not the majority.

Read more here: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-discrepancy-model-what-you-need-to-know

In general significant discrepancies are show by differences of 1.5 standard deviations. On the 100 scale that is 22 points. In the subscores it is 4-ish.

Was the IQ done at a younger age? Is it substantially lower now than when DC was younger? Are there other barriers to IQ testing (poor receptive or expressive language)?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The services you mentioned that you think your child needs are all actually accommodations that can be provided under a 504 plan.

Can a 504 plan be instated without any SLD or other diagnosis.

No, there needs to be diagnosis. But what was your child's disability category for the IEP? It's a pretty big jump from saying your child has an educational disability that impedes access to general eduction to no diagnosis at all.

To answer your other question - no, processing speed scores in the high 80s do not indicate a disability, especially since your child's scores mostly sit within the high 80s and low 90s. I believe a score of an 86 on the WISC in considered low average which is exactly what it sounds like - on the lower side of average.

The disability category they put on the IEP was SLD. DC was struggling in Math.

Now after the evaluation they said there is no disability, and that it's just her IQ is average and because there is no disability they cannot give her a 504 without a disability code?

If you are concerned, you should get a private evaluation. Or wait and see how 6th grade goes before doing it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The services you mentioned that you think your child needs are all actually accommodations that can be provided under a 504 plan.

Can a 504 plan be instated without any SLD or other diagnosis.

No, there needs to be diagnosis. But what was your child's disability category for the IEP? It's a pretty big jump from saying your child has an educational disability that impedes access to general eduction to no diagnosis at all.

To answer your other question - no, processing speed scores in the high 80s do not indicate a disability, especially since your child's scores mostly sit within the high 80s and low 90s. I believe a score of an 86 on the WISC in considered low average which is exactly what it sounds like - on the lower side of average.